Pictured: Nanoparticles releasing microRNAs inside a brain cancer cell. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center brain cancer researchers announced that they successfully delivered ultra-tiny nano-size packets of genetic code, called microRNAs, in animal models of human brain cancer. This multi-specialty study was led by John Laterra, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the Kimmel Cancer Center Brain Cancer(...)
Research
A Look Inside the Kimmel Cancer Center’s Cancer Medicine Cabinet
Posted by | Issues & Perspectives, Patient Stories, Prevention/Screening, Research, treatmentRead the latest issue of Promise & Progress featuring research advances in cancer drug discovery and development, promising new cancer drugs, patient stories and more. From scientific meetings to our own dinner tables, conversations about better treatments for cancer are among the most frequently discussed health care topics. Everyone wants them—the doctors and scientists who(...)
Jaffee to Lead AACR; Conference Focuses on Innovative Cancer Science
Posted by | ResearchDriving innovative cancer science to patient care is the theme for this year’s American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Chicago. As more progress against cancer emerges from various areas of study, scientists are bringing different tools and skills together to help diagnose cancer at an earlier stage, increasing the chances of effective treatment(...)
Remembering Dr. Richard Humphrey, Multiple Myeloma Pioneer
Posted by | Research, UncategorizedRichard Humphrey, a multiple myeloma pioneer who was among our founding Cancer Center faculty members and former director of its diagnostic immunology laboratory, died on March 27, 2018. Dr. Humphrey reflected on the early years of the “Oncology Center” on its 25th anniversary: “Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow. Who would have predicted that such(...)
“SEEK” and You May Find Cancer
Posted by | precision medicine, Prevention/Screening, Research, treatmentThe team of cancer genetics experts that deciphered the genetic blueprints of cancer, have developed two new screening tests that have the promise to detect cancer in an early and curable stage. As the names of the tests indicate PapSEEK and UroSEEK, they seek out and find genetic evidence of cancer by detecting DNA released(...)
The Promise of Precision Medicine
Posted by | precision medicine, ResearchAll cancers are fundamentally disorders of acquired defects in genes. The genes serve as blueprints for all of the components of cells and tissues in the human body. In cancers, faulty blueprints lead to malfunctioning cells that grow uncontrollably, spread throughout the body and overwhelm normal organ functions to threaten life itself. Full realization of(...)
Cancer Research: Back to Basics
Posted by | ResearchMany types of cancer are caused by gene mutations acquired during a person’s lifetime. Systematic cataloging of these acquired gene defects has led to improved screening, detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment. A more deliberate investment in discovery research could reveal more opportunities for developing cancer treatment by making better sense of the acquired gene defects(...)
New Test Detects Eight Cancer Types
Posted by | Prevention/Screening, Research, treatmentMay make the most feared disease a little less scary Cancer is scary. Part of the reason—maybe even the main reason—cancer is so scary, is that it seems to come out of nowhere and changes lives in the blink of an eye. We’re feeling fine, but under the surface, hidden within the DNA of our(...)
2017 in Review: Advances in Cancer Science and Medicine
Posted by | ResearchHere are our picks for the top stories: Mismatch Is Ideal Match for Immunotherapy: Our top pick was also selected by the New York Times as one of 17 things that happened for the first time in 2017. Ludwig Center and Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy investigators linked a DNA spell-checklike error, known as mismatch(...)
2017 in Review: Honors and Awards
Posted by | Research, UncategorizedThe Kimmel Cancer Center was recognized with many honors and awards in 2017. Here’s the full list: Sidney Kimmel, leading cancer philanthropist for whom the Kimmel Cancer Center is named was honored with the American Association for Cancer Research Distinguished Public Service Award. He was recognized for his lifelong commitment to supporting advances in cancer(...)